Tonight, we had a “leftar” — a wonderful concept that I read about in Green Muslims Ramadan tool-kit, where you use your leftovers to make iftaar and dinner.

I didn't realize that planting trees is so valued in Islam. As the above saying of Prophet Muhammad makes clear, even if the Day of Judgement arrives when you're in the middle of planting a tree, continue planting.

My father is an amazing storyteller. He has such vivid, wonderful anecdotes about his childhood and growing up years in Calcutta and London.

Today I asked the children to write a letter to someone they care about and share their feelings towards them. Zayd chose his first best friend, James, his buddy from pre-school who moved to California a few years ago.

Guest blogger: SaanyaHer name is Yusra, and her smile can light up a room. She and her brother Akram are two of the first kids I started supporting to go to school, in a village in Gujarat

Zayd has always been passionate about trees, the environment, and all living creatures. I remember when he was little, whenever it would rain and the worms would come out

Guest blogger: SaanyaMy family and I attended the Montgomery County Muslim Council and Foundation's Iftar with the County Executive and other representatives.

Guest blogger: ZaydWow, am I tired! This morning I went for a walk on the C&O canal near my house. I picked up trash for my good deed. I was also fasting so it was hard.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Do (good) deeds according to your capacity…God does not grow tired of giving rewards unless you tire of doing good…

I love cupcakes. I confess I even had a cupcake tasting party to try out the various cupcakerys and figure out which one I liked the best. The winner: Georgetown Cupcake, hands down.

Before we left home, I had a long conversation with my nine year old Zayd. I explained to him that we were going to Staples to shop for school supplies for deserving children in Montgomery County.

It's amazing to me that polls still show that most Americans say that they've never met a Muslim. As a community and as individuals, we still need to open up and introduce

O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Quran, Surah al-Hujurat (49:13)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises." He was then asked: "From what do we give charity every day?

The topic of our MoverMoms strategy walk Monday evening was the crisis in Somalia. It is beyond heartbreaking. We've all seen the images; we've heard the statistic

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people then asked: "(But what) if someone has nothing to give, what should he do?

"The perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbors hungry." Hadith by Ibn Abbas

"Whoever works actively to fulfill the needs of others is better than the one who stays in secluded worship in the mosque for one whole month." Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas

"Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good - to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer

Making moon and star cookies during Ramadan has become a tradition my kids and I look forward to each year. We started several years ago, when we finally found a moon